1080P update

[Anonymous User]

I have seen a few posts wanting to know when the Now TV output will be upgraded from 720P to 1080P, so I contacted Now TV support today to get an update.

They confirmed that this is definitely being 'worked on' but they could not confirm when or if it will be available. They also could not confirm that it will arrive in 2019.

It sounds like it is not a quick & easy thing to do, otherwise we would have it already. 

My personal view is that we will get it eventually as there will be a strong commercial reason for it, because competitors are commonly providing 1080P or even 4K output now.

Hope that helps some of you. 

[Anonymous User]

@Anonymous User @RoyB 

The Roku Streaming Stick+ (4k with auto refresh rate) is the best investment I've made in a long time. Not only does it give you all the major players in the UK but offers so much more besides. I run Plex on it for my own archived material, and love delving into some of the more obscure channels (apps) on offer. It's amazing for vintage tv (Flash Gordon anyone?) 😀

[Anonymous User]

First time user of NowTV last weekend when I bought a day sports pass to watch football. TBH had a headache by the end ‘cos being used to Sky UHD Nows quality was not something i’d Want to experience again. Had been hoping to use Now for the 2019  golf majors during April - July as it’d be more cost effective than adding Skysports back to my package - guess i’ll Just need to keep check scoreboard updates online. Doubt I’ll use Now again until they can offer 1080.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks very much for the update, as for it being a hard thing to do, I would say in the nicest way no its not. I would just be happy if they could fix the framerate issue as that is even worse when trying to watch football.

[Anonymous User]

I just agree, it isn’t remotely hard in this day and age to put out 1080p content. To give it some kind of comparison..

Lovefilm (now of course defunct, and now replaced by Amazon Prime) started 1080p streaming in 2012.

iTunes too also started moving over to 1080p in 2012.

Netflix full HD came before that in 2010.

Whilst YouTube 1080p started rolling out in 2009.

The “difficulty” has nothing to do with the content, it’s been the fact they (Sky Plc) have wanted a premium high profit product In Sky Q to run alongside a lower margin, less quality Now Tv service. Originally they announced last January that 1080p streaming would come “by years end”, the delay of 4K HDR content to the Sky Q platform meant that it would have brought Now Tv quality too close until that rolls out in mid 2019. Aside from that there’s now the added complication of Sky itself now looking at Sky Tv over Broadband (Iptv), which again will change how they want to reposition Now Tv in the market. All that before we even get to Comcast now taking over, and the new bigwigs in charge now possibly having a different take on how they want the services playing out with each other.

[Anonymous User]

Personally, I would be very pleased to see 1080P on NowTV. I am not looking for 4K HDR despite having a 4K HDR TV already. 

I just watched the first episode of The Grand Tour Season 3 in 4K HDR on Amazon Prime Video and can't say there was much difference vs the 1080P version. 

Sky can present Sky Q as their flagship 4K service - that's fine by me. Just give us 1080P on NowTV. 

[Anonymous User]

I like 4k HDR content, I have an 4k LG OLED TV, but if the bitrates high enough then I'd be quite happy with a decent 1080p source if 4k isn't readily available. I only watched Captain America Winter Soldier on Blu-ray last night and still thought the picture was pretty stunning. Its only really when side by side that you notice the subtle differences. (hense why I've certainly not entertained paying Sky an extra £12 a month for the privelage of the odd smattering of 4k when it isn't even HDR yet. As things stand I'll just stick to renting 4k and Blu-ray movies on disc online, and when Now Tv Sky Cinema actually becomes a decent proposition I'll pick up another Movie Pass. For now the service does for the background fodder my partner likes to watch, and Sky Sports News. 

[Anonymous User]

Just out of interest on this topic, I recently watched Deadpool 2 on DVD (not Blu-ray) via PS4. With the upscaling added by the console, the picture quality was at least as good as the NowTV 720p streaming.

[Anonymous User]

I wasn't sure if Now Tv had gone to 1080p at first sight earlier, as the movie quality looks to be a lot sharper than usual 🤔 there is certainly an improvement I'd say ( Now Tv box set to 1080p) in fact it's the best quality I have seen Now Tv, either that or my eyes have improved 🤔 Anybody else notice this?

[gavs82008]

Haven't noticed anything different, from what I remember as part of last years survey that he 1080p would be an add-on from the 720p at a price. 

Unless that is changed and its now 1080p as default, I supect that perhaps the 720p stream has improved slightly?

[Anonymous User]

Well they've certainly done something as the quality is very noticeable (to me anyway) I did some side by side comparisons to movies I have on bluray that's on Now Tv and they were very close in quality. Still not sure if it's Full 1080p?? Or they've upped the bitrate, but still there's an improvement either way, with which I'm very happy with 😊

[Anonymous User]

@Anonymous User

Very interesting that you should say that. The other day I watched the new movie 'Leave No Trace' and was slightly surprised that the image quality seemed better than normal. I'll watch a few more movies though, before I allow myself to celebrate.

Fingers crossed...

[Anonymous User]

Out of interest is that movie 'leave no trace' any good??

[Anonymous User]

@Anonymous User

Yes, it is a good film. Mark Kermode (BBC Film Review) raves about it and said it should have won the Best Picture Oscar - it wasn't nominated though. 

Quite a slow pace to it but a memorable film. Personal rating = 4 stars out of 5.

👍

[gavs82008]

Currently watching Aliens: special edition and I have to say the picture is better than usual, definitely noticeable on a 55inch 4K Tv! 

Watched Criminal Minds where the stream quality was at 3100 and Aliens is at 4865.

So definitely a difference 

[Anonymous User]

Hi

Is the quality of picture better from the now TV box. Rather than using the built in app on the TV.

I have samsSam TV although picture ok quality of picture is max of 4865

[Anonymous User]

It's bizarre that Youtube have tons of free videos you can watch in 4k, yet a paid-for service still only offers 720. Sky/Now are being left behind....

[Anonymous User]

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@Anonymous User wrote:

It's bizarre that Youtube have tons of free videos you can watch in 4k, yet a paid-for service still only offers 720. Sky/Now are being left behind....

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Almost right Sky with dish has 1080p , UHD & 4K - Now Tv are the guilty party they are letting down there customers.

cheers

[crashcris]

Ok, so are we all now agreed that NOTHING has improved or upped the quality from 720 and there is still no indication of when that or 5.1 sound WILL ever be delivered?

Seriously NowTV, These questions have been being asked for a good couple of years now and your service is looking 3rd rate at this stage. I've just cancelled my subscription, will keep looking in to find out any news and will consider rejoining when the service improves.

[Anonymous User]

I watched the latest episode of GOT on now tv last night it was ok but had to turn off as it was just to dark to watch.

I ended watching it today on a friends TV that had sky in 1080p and I could see it fine.

Something look ok, Billions looks good but its Not 1080p

It should be 1080p and I thought it would be now, I use the built in app on Samsung. 

Is the now TV 4k box worth buying is the quality better.

[Anonymous User]

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@Anonymous User wrote:

I watched the latest episode of GOT on now tv last night it was ok but had to turn off as it was just to dark to watch.

I ended watching it today on a friends TV that had sky in 1080p and I could see it fine.

Something look ok, Billions looks good but its Not 1080p

It should be 1080p and I thought it would be now, I use the built in app on Samsung. 

Is the now TV 4k box worth buying is the quality better.

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The Now Tv 4K Box has NO bearing on anything shown on Now Tv it is only useful for Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Another misrepresentation by Now Tv for anyone not doing there homework before buying one.

[gavs82008]

https://www.pocket-lint.com/tv/news/now-tv/147996-now-tv-plus-1080p-streaming-service-launching

Link confirms that trials are going ahead for 1080p on Now TV. Although and unsurprisingly there is no release date when it is coming out, apart from "later" this year.